The high-profile figures who have breached lockdown restrictions

The high-profile figures who have breached lockdown restrictions

Dominic Cummings is the latest high-profile figure to have found themselves in the spotlight over the lockdown rules.

– Professor Neil Ferguson

The scientist, whose research helped usher in the lockdown, resigned from his role as a key Government adviser after admitting that he had undermined social distancing rules by reportedly meeting his “lover” at his home.

Professor Neil Ferguson resigned from his role (House of Commons/PA)

Scotland Yard criticised his behaviour as “plainly disappointing” but ruled out issuing a fine because he “has taken responsibility” after resigning as a key Government adviser in the coronavirus response.

– Dr Catherine Calderwood

Scotland’s chief medical officer resigned in April after twice breaking lockdown restrictions in order to visit her second home, which was located more than an hour away from her main residence in Edinburgh.

Despite Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon backing Dr Calderwood to remain in her position, she ultimately decided to relinquish her role so as not to be a “distraction” from the Government’s social-distancing message.

– Robert Jenrick

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary was forced to explain himself after travelling more than an hour to visit his parents despite warning people to remain at home.

Mr Jenrick was also criticised for travelling 150 miles from his London property to his Herefordshire home from where he travelled to his parents in Shropshire.

Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick was criticised for driving to his Herefordshire home from London (Andrew Parsons/10 Downing Street/Crown Copyright)

However, he defended his actions, saying he went to deliver food and medicine to his isolating parents.

– Stephen Kinnock

The MP for Aberavon in South Wales was publicly shamed by police after travelling to celebrate his father’s birthday.

After Mr Kinnock posted a photo on Twitter of himself practising social distancing with his parents outside their home, South Wales Police replied: “We know celebrating your Dad’s birthday is a lovely thing to do, however this is not essential travel. We all have our part to play in this, we urge you to comply with (lockdown) restrictions, they are in place to keep us all safe. Thank you.”

– Dr David Clark

The New Zealand politician branded himself an “idiot” for driving his family 20km (12.4 miles) to the beach on the first weekend of the country’s national stay-at-home measures.

That incident came a week after he was photographed going for a mountain bike ride 2km (1.2 miles) away from his family home in Dunedin on New Zealand’s south island.

Although the health minister offered his resignation to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, she instead opted to demote him to the bottom of the Government’s Cabinet rankings.

– Marcos Rojo

It is not just politicians who have found themselves in hot water over social distancing breaches as the Manchester United defender was recently filmed appearing to flout Argentina’s coronavirus lockdown rules.

The 30-year-old, on loan at Estudiantes, was seen playing cards and smoking with friends in his homeland in a video on Instagram.

– Kyle Walker

Manchester City’s Kyle Walker was criticised for holding a party (Martin Rickett/PA)

The Manchester City and England full-back was forced to apologise in April after it was widely reported he held a party at his Cheshire home in a blatant violation of the nation’s lockdown measures.

The club has promised the 29-year-old will also be subject to an “internal disciplinary procedure”.

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here